Finding Practical Uses For Math and Science

Grade school students of all ages are interested in knowing
how the study of math and science will benefit them after they
graduate. In fact, they often question whether they will ever use math
or science in real life. The fact is that both math and science skills
prove useful in everyday situations. Furthermore, if a child wants to
pursue a career in either science or math, a basic understanding of the
subject matter is a necessity.

Math is a useful skill to have in real life. For instance,
math skills are used to balance a family budget, keep track of the
funds in a checkbook, estimate the cost of a purchase, and determine
the accuracy of a bill. A person couldn't measure the ingredients in a
recipe, determine the mileage of a driving trip, or figure out the cost
of a shirt that is on sale without the help of math. Grade school
students have been known to use math skills to estimate how much
allowance they will need to buy a particular clothing item, check their
math homework problems, or even figure out how much money it would take
to care for a pet guinea pig. In short, there are countless ways that a
person of any age uses math skills in daily life.

A person also makes use of scientific knowledge in daily life.
Some of the skills learned in basic science classes include making
predictions, gathering evidence, and drawing conclusions. A person can
use their basic science background to make important decisions in life.
For instance, when a person is considering whether to buy a particular
car he or she gathers evidence regarding whether the car is reliable.
The person may also consider the durability of the car, how much gas it
uses, and how long they plan to keep it. Weighing the evidence and
coming to a conclusion about an issue is helped along by a system of
logical thinking. The decision of what college to attend or which house
to buy can also be made through a process of logical thinking. In other
words, logical thinking is used in many everyday situations.

A thorough understanding of basic math skills can certainly
benefit a young person who wants to pursue a career in math. Math
teachers, computer programmers, statisticians, engineers, and
meteorologists all use mathematics in their work. In addition, a person
who owns a business needs solid math skills as well. A business owner
must estimate taxes as well as keep track of expenses and profits.
Alternatively, a person who is interested in a career in science should
begin with a basic understanding of the subject and move onto further
study. A doctor or physician, a veterinarian, a biologist, and a
chemist are just a few of the occupations that require a background in
science.